Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Newcomers referring to Canada's citizenship study guide will find changes including sections that outline an emphasis on Canada's democratic principles, recognition that gay and lesbian couples have access to marriage and that forced marriage is not tolerated in the country, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced Monday.
At a citizenship ceremony in Vancouver for 45 new Canadians, Kenney outlined several changes to Discover Canada, the country's popular study guide used for preparing for citizenship tests.
"We expect people who want to become Canadians to have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities and the values and institutions that are rooted in Canada's history," he said in a statement.
"The guide is being read by a wide variety of people from citizenship applicants to students and families. And it has sparked a national conversation about who we are as Canadians."
Kenney said that the guide, which was originally launched on Nov. 12, 2009 after a panel of Canadian public figures, authors and historians were consulted, touches on Canadians' common values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and equality of men and women.
Additional questions will be added to the citizenship test to reflect the new information added to the study manual.
More than 280,000 newcomers entered the country in 2010, the highest number in more than 50 years.